Cracks appearing in iPhone's cred

NOTE to iPhone 5 users: Don't drop it, it can't be fixed for months and could cost you a bomb.

Replacement screens for Apple's new device are in such short supply that those unlucky enough to smash their phone - the most common reason for iPhone repair - will be forced to pay a premium, or potentially wait until after Christmas to get it fixed.

And repair experts say the phone's new screen design, in which the front glass, touch sensitive "digitizer" and LCD display are fused together, means the components cannot be repaired separately, adding to the cost.

Director of Sydney iPhone repair company IExperts, Patrick Lee, said worldwide stocks of the iPhone 5's new screens were so low that they were "effectively being sold to the highest bidder".

"Our supplies are in severely limited stock, so at this stage the cost of parts makes screen repair rather cost prohibitive," he said.

"At the moment, if you came in with a smashed iPhone 5 we'd probably charge you about $220 as we'd have to pull the screen off a new device in stock, and then repair that one when new stock came in."

Mr Lee said he expected it to be at least three to six months before increased supply meant the cost could drop to about $149, slightly above the $129 he currently charges to fix the iPhone 4 and 4S.

Repair technician David Tsang, of Sydney's FixPod, said the new design and the larger size of the iPhone 5's screen would also contribute to repair cost.

"It's hard to estimate how much it would cost, but I suspect it would be more because the screen parts are fused together," he said.

"It makes the screen a lot thinner, but probably more expensive."

The only other option for iPhone 5 users who accidentally damage their phones is to get a replacement from Apple at a cost of $288.95.

Australian tech website iFixit.com, which takes apart new devices and critiques their repairability, has also reported other internal components that were separated in previous iPhone models are soldered on to one cable in the iPhone 5, meaning it will cost more to fix just one component.

Meanwhile, angry iPhone 5 users have reported scratches and nicks on their new phones straight from the box in a scandal online communities have dubbed "Scuff Gate".

A poll of more than 1200 iPhone 5 users on Apple discussion website MacRumors.com revealed more than a third noticed scratches or chips on their brand new phone "out of the box" and almost half having the same problem within a few hours of unwrapping.

"Simply from gently placing my phone onto the side of my Macbook Pro while it charges and I type, it has a small scuff - and it's not one that will wipe away, it is permanent!" wrote user alec6542.

Another user, AbsolutC, wrote: "After removing the plastic and looking at the phone, the back chamfered edge has about 7 places where it's silver. Looks as though the paint has flaked off."

The latest problems to dog Apples new device come in the wake of comments by the company,s former official "evangelist" Guy Kawasaki yesterday, in which he declared the company had become "arrogant".